Niantic Labs released a major update for Pokemon Go. This latest update includes a revamped version of the most discussed feature since the day of the game's release, the much troubled 'Nearby' tracking feature. The update highlights the replacement of 'Nearby' with 'Sightings' which basically has the same feature but a higher refresh rate. It is more of a substitute than the previous tracker and more stable compared to the buggy footstep system. On the other hand, the real nearby tracker system also looks remarkable.
According to the reports from Forbes, the real tracker is now being tested with players in San Francisco. Rumors said that there will be more updates coming soon in other big places as well. The reports show a couple of screenshots of this new tracker system taken from the game itself.
Based on the leaked images, the 'Sightings' section is shown as well as the new 'Nearby' section located just above it. This new 'nearby' section shows players a Pokemon beside a picture of nearby Pokestops where they are most likely to be found. Tapping these images enable players to see a bird's eye view of the map, showing them which Pokestop they should be headed. Reports said that a circle is now present around the Pokestops similar in size with the ones around the player's portrait. If a certain Pokemon is inside that circle, it is considered as 'Nearby' on that Pokestop.
On the other hand, the Pokémon which are on the 'Sightings' section have grass behind them instead of Pokestop image. This means that they are not necessarily near a Pokestop. At the moment, the function is not yet available when tapping these 'Sightings' Pokemon. Also, they are not necessarily arranged by distance. So you will still walk aimlessly knowing that they are just present anywhere.
However, some questions were raised about not seeing the new 'Nearby' section after the update. According to Tech Crunch, Niantic specifically notes that this system is just a test and it could change significantly before it will be released officially. The company is also hopeful to discover a new tracker system to help players who are located in areas where there are less number of Pokestops.
